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Set Sail with One Piece Treasure Cruise Producer Tomoya Yoshizawa
Ahead of ONE PIECE Treasure Cruise's sixth anniversary, Anime News Network was able to talk to Producer Yoshi to discuss his favorite moments from the series and how the game has evolved over the last six years.
― The popular mobile game ONE PIECE Treasure Cruise is celebrating its sixth anniversary with a brand-new English-language campaign, "Operation: Bring Back Sanji ~Extremely Hellish Chaos?!~ ...
Takahiro Obata: Creating Musical Tension in The Promised Neverland
The series composer discusses his use of instrumentation to bring a sense of love and fear to the anime series.
― The children of Grace Field House find their world shattered when it's revealed the world they know is merely a lie. Emma, Ray, and Norman hatch a plan to escape with the entire orphanage in tow in hopes of evading demons that plan to devour them. The anime's second season is currently ai...
Interview: How Studio No Border Brought SK8 the Infinity Skateboard Designs to Life
In 2018, acclaimed French artist Thomas Romain founded Studio No Border, a multimedia creative studio based in Japan. We spoke to Camille Le Guilloux, project manager at Studio No Border, about the studio's role on SK8, as well as its own projects.
― In 2018, acclaimed French artist Thomas Romain founded Studio No Border, a multimedia creative studio based in Japan. The studio assisted with the world...
Burn the Witch: Fairy Tales and Shōnen Storytelling
From the creator of Bleach, Burn The Witch takes a straightforward, yet fascinating approach towards the shōnen formula that puts it at odds with a more classical form of storytelling: fairy tales.
― From the creator of Bleach, Burn the Witch takes a straightforward, yet fascinating approach towards the shōnen formula that puts it at odds with a more classical form of storytelling: fairy tales.
Touhou Project: From Fan-Made Games to Consoles
Created across 1995 and 1996 by one-man developer ZUN, the Touhou Project fandom has taken on a life of its own with doujin games of every stripe. Ant Cooke looks at some of most interesting creations in the series.
― Whether you're new to the Touhou Project series or a veteran of bullet hell games, you might've seen games like Touhou Luna Nights and Touhou Genso Wanderer on digital storefronts. Thes...
Capturing the Merch: Interview with the Cardcaptor Sakura Memorabilia World Record Holder
Matthew Emblidge lives in Maryland with his collection of 4,873 items (and growing!) Cardcaptor Sakura items.
― Cardcaptor Sakura is no doubt one of the most popular magical girl franchises to date. In fact, a lot of people I know grew up with the franchise aside from another mahou shoujo series, Sailor Moon. Its immense popularity has also spawned a huge amount of merch releases over the years. I wa...
Interview: Jujutsu Kaisen Director Sung Hoo Park
"I don't want to talk about any spoilers, but you can expect more of the additional and anime-original scenes."
― Following Yuji Itadori's journey as a Jujutsu Sorcerer after he consumed the finger of Special Grade Curse Ryoumen Sukuna, Jujutsu Kaisen is undoubtedly one of the best animation showcases of the Fall 2020 anime season. Director Sung Hoo Park spoke briefly to ANN about the process and cha...
You Give Love a Vlad Name – A Preview and Primer for Vladlove
Mamoru Oshii's anticipated return to animation is a wacky yuri comedy starring a vampire. Brian Ruh discusses the upcoming series and its connections to now unavailable mobile game.
― Later this month, we will see the reintroduction of something that has been absent from anime for nearly forty years – a television series featuring Mamoru Oshii in a main creative role. The series Vladlove will debut o...
Video Game Preview: Exploration is Key in Harvest Moon: One World
Players are taking their farms on the road to new locations with unique flora and fauna in Natsume's newest entry in the Harvest Moon franchise.
― The Harvest Moon franchise is treasured as an easy-going series of farm and life sims bringing relaxation to players around the world. This March 5th, video game company Natsume brings us the most recent entry to this storied series: Harvest Moon: One Worl...
The Moral Relativism of Black Lagoon
Black Lagoon is an anime defined by its Hollywood-style action and larger-than-life characters. Matthew Roe takes another look at the series to examine the series' unique lens, where everything and everyone are a matter of perspective.
― Black Lagoon is an anime defined by its Hollywood-style action and larger-than-life characters. Matthew Roe takes another look at the series to examine the series' u...
Interview: The Staff of The Promised Neverland
Anime News Network had a chance to sit down with director Mamoru Kanbe, animation producer Yūichi Fukushima, and producer Kenta Suzuki to talk about the first season's adaptation, the depiction of Krone, and what the change in scenery means for the second season.
― While The Promised Neverland has wrapped its run in Shonen Jump, the manga continues to stand up to other big name Jump titles such as On...
Interview: Gust Brand Manager and Atelier Ryza Producer, Junzo Hosoi
Anime News Network had the opportunity to interview Gust Brand Manager and Atelier Ryza Producer Junzo Hosoi about the alchemy behind Atelier Ryza's success and charm.
― Despite being mostly a cozy, laid-back RPG adventure, last year's Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout has become a surprising smash hit since its release, having sold over 420,000 copies to date according to Gematsu. Now...
The Heartbreaking Sacrifices Made in The Promised Neverland
In a world designed to exploit and consume humans like cattle, The Promised Neverland is full of victims. Are Isabella and Krone complicit, victims of deadly system, or something in between?
― Season 2 of The Promised Neverland just premiered and Cloverworks is ready to throw us back into the struggle of Emma, Ray, and the rest of the Grace Field House kids as they try to survive in a world full of ...
Just What the Heck is Genshin Impact?
With the game's major story arcs still being very unfinished, you might be wondering just what Genshin Impact's player base is spending so much time on. But once you set foot in Teyvat's big, open environment, you'll definitely start to understand: this world was built for lots of replayability.
― If you look at the list of Twitter's most talked-about games of 2020, you'll see a bunch of names you pr...
Interview: Akudama Drive Assistant Director Yoshifumi Sasahara
Sasahara looks back on his role as an episode director, screenwriter, and storyboard artist on episode 6 plus details about that Anime Awards-nominated fight scene!
― The Akudama Drive anime may have finished, but its high-impact story and presentation are sure to linger in fans' memories. Last year, we interviewed art director Yoshio Tanioka, who shared his role in crafting the anime's unique aesthe...
PREVIEW: Twenty Hours with the Princess Connect! Re:Dive Mobile Game
If the worst thing I can say about the game is that I'm annoyed I can't play more of it, that should give you a hint as to how much I have enjoyed it so far.
― Over the past week, I've spent easily 20 hours plowing through the smartphone game Princess Connect! Re:Dive. And despite giving it my all, I am nowhere near the current endgame—as you might expect from any mobile game with a “stamina” system...
Persona 5 Strikers Hands-On Preview - Don't Bring a Knife to a Persona Fight
Callum May dives into the latest Persona title: a Warriors- style title that is "unlike any other crossover Omega Force has developed in the past."
― During the early development of Hyrule Warriors, the team at Omega Force wanted to have the game involve dungeons, puzzles, and all of the things intrinsic to a Zelda game. However, then general manager Shigeru Miyamoto shot down the idea, telling the t...
The Winter 2021 Preview Guide
Preview Guide closes out with a return to the stone age with DR. STONE: STONE WARS! The Preview Guide is full of of this season's latest shows. Don't miss: Log Horizon, Redo of Healer, EX-ARM, Kemono Jihen, Mushoku Tensei, Sk8 the Infinity, Horimiya, World Trigger Season 2, Back Arrow, Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, So I'm a Spider, So What?, The Quintessential Quintuplets ∬, and more!
― Welcome to...
A Blast From the Past: Get Caught Up on Dr. Stone Season 1
Are you ready for the premiere of Dr. Stone: Stone Wars today? Nicholas Dupree has all the major developments from season one to get you caught up!
― This winter there's an insane number of sequels coming out. From long-awaited follow ups for Log Horizon and World Trigger to highly anticipated second seasons for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and The Promised Neverland. Hidden among all tho...
The Winter 2021 Preview Guide
You've waited five years and now LOG HORIZON is back! The Preview Guide is full of of this season's latest shows. Don't miss: Redo of Healer, EX-ARM, Kemono Jihen, Mushoku Tensei, Sk8 the Infinity, Horimiya, World Trigger Season 2, Back Arrow, Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, So I'm a Spider, So What?, The Quintessential Quintuplets ∬, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Preview G...
Back to the Horizon: A Beginner's Primer on Log Horizon
After five years off the air, it's time to dive back into Elder Tale in a new season of Log Horizon!
― Players log into their favorite MMORPG, eager to experience the newest update. The next thing they know, they appear to be inside the bodies of their avatars rather than just controlling them on a screen. Somehow, the latest update to Elder Tale has pulled its users into its world, forcing them to f...
The Winter 2021 Preview Guide
We've saved something truly strange for the end. It's time to check out the horrors of WONDER EGG PRIORITY Also don't miss EX-ARM (lol), Kemono Jihen, Mushoku Tensei, Sk8 the Infinity, Horimiya, World Trigger Season 2, The Hidden Dungeon Only I can Enter, Back Arrow, Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, So I'm a Spider, So What?, The Quintessential Quintuplets ∬, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network...
The Winter 2021 Preview Guide
You saw the previews, but what did our critics think of EX-ARM? Also don't miss Kemono Jihen, Mushoku Tensei, Sk8 the Infinity, Horimiya, World Trigger Season 2, The Hidden Dungeon Only I can Enter, Back Arrow, Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, So I'm a Spider, So What?, The Quintessential Quintuplets ∬, and more!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our tea...
The Winter 2021 Preview Guide
Miyamura looks like a bookish introvert but beneath those glasses are tattoos and piercing. Will he find love with Hori, the popular girl with her own hidden side? Preview Guide continues with HORIMIYA! Also don't miss World Trigger Season 2, The Hidden Dungeon Only I can Enter, Back Arrow, Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, So I'm a Spider, So What?, The Quintessential Quintuplets ∬, and more!
― Welco...
The Winter 2021 Preview Guide
Heroines have a new face! Voice actress Aoi Yuki brings the arachnid to life in SO I'M A SPIDER, SO WHAT? Also don't miss Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, Quintessential Quintuplets, Back Arrow, Wixoss Diva(A)Live, Cells at Work, Laid-Back Camp, Heaven's Design Team, Re:Zero, 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team, Suppose a Kid From the Last Dungeon..., Otherside Picnic, Skate-Leading Stars! and more!
Once Upon A Slime: Everything You Need to Know Before That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2
Theron Martin breaks down the backstory of Rimuru's kingdom and what challenges Tempest will face next!
― The Fall 2018 anime season began with the debut of That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime, an adaptation of the light novel series by author Fuse. It became a major hit, enough so that its 25-episode run ended with an announcement that a two-cour second series would be forthcoming. Delays due to...
The Winter 2021 Preview Guide
The Battle for Best Girl continues with the premiere of The Quintessential Quintuplets ∬! Also make sure not to miss Preview Guide's latest updates including Cells at Work and its spin-off CODE BLACK! The winter season is happening right now! ALSO: Laid-Back Camp, Heaven's Design Team, Show By Rock!! Stars!!, Re:Zero, LBX Girls, 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team, Suppose a Kid From the Last Dungeon..., Otherside Picnic, Skate-Leading Stars! and more!
The Winter 2021 Preview Guide
It's time to return to demon-infested world of THE PROMISED NEVERLAND! The winter season is happening right now! ALSO: Re:Zero, LBX Girls, ICHU, Suppose a Kid From the Last Dungeon..., Otherside Picnic, Gekidol, Vladlove and Skate-Leading Stars!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics write up their impressions instantly, to be posted here...
The Best Anime of 2020
Our critics share their best and worst anime of the year along with their favorite characters, moments, and songs!
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So I Interviewed a Spider, So What?
Theron Martin goes spelunking into the depths of the Great Elroe Labyrinth to "interview" one peculiar spider about her upcoming adventures.
― Disclaimer: This is an "interview" with a fictional character in order to get readers acquainted with the series So I'm a Spider, So What? ahead of its anime premiere. Theron is safe and has not encountered any further isekai monsters. In the depths of the Gr...
The Winter 2021 Preview Guide
Hungry for new anime? The new season starts right now with Suppose a Kid From the Last Dungeon..., Otherside Picnic, Gekidol, Vladlove and Skate-Leading Stars!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Preview Guide! Here's how it goes: our team of critics write up their impressions instantly, to be posted here as they go along. Each critic will cover as many shows as they can handle, giving you...
The Worst Anime of 2020
Our final update reveals the WORST series of 2020 and the results of our mega-poll!
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2020: A Turning Point For Light Novels
In this year of big upheavals, as various industries scramble to adapt to lifestyles that have fundamentally changed, how has the light novel industry fared?
― 2020 was... a tumultuous year, to put it mildly. The effects of the coronavirus pandemic reached every single person on this planet. In this year of big upheavals, as various industries scramble to adapt to lifestyles that have fundamentally c...
The Newspeak and Twisted History of Legend of the Galactic Heroes
The Legend of the Galactic Heroes is a monumental achievement in 1980s fiction. Yet, it is probably more relevant now than ever before. Matthew Roe, takes another look at the seminal sci-fi classic, examining its historical influences and use of propaganda.
― What defines a legend? Well, if we pop open the nearest thesaurus or dictionary, we're certain to get a slew of similar answers. It most commo...
Final Fantasy XIV is the Best Final Fantasy Game
Initially maligned for its many issues, Callum May details the history of Square-Enix's MMORPG and how it bloomed into the best Final Fantasy entry.
― If you have a friend who plays Final Fantasy XIV, give them a (social-distance) hug. For Warriors of Light around the world, myself included, the year since the Shadowbringers expansion has been an emotional rollercoaster. From the outside, this can be...
Why Shaman King? The Reboot You Can't Miss
With a new trailer under its belt, it's time to get hype about the upcoming reboot. Toby Adeyemi discusses how he fell in love with the original and why the story is just as exciting almost 20 years later.
― Shamans are human mediums between the living world and the dead, or more succinctly, people who can communicate with ghosts. It was a theme popularized in manga by Hiroyuki Takei's Shaman King in...
Beyond Diehard – Why Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz is the Preeminent Christmas Film
Stephen Hero makes a case for Endless Waltz and why the nostalgia-laden OAV is perfect holiday viewing.
― The tired and trite “Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?” debate has plagued social media for years. Archival research suggests that the meme has been active since at least 2007, when platforms such as Twitter and Facebook were still in their infancy. Of course, Die Hard as a dark horse pick for best ...
Anime News Network's Winter 2021 Anime Trailer Watchalong
Anime News Network executive editor Lynzee Loveridge, video producer Jacki Jing, and Discotek producer Mike Toole sat down to watch everything from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime to The Promised Neverland to Sk8 the Infinity!
― Anime News Network executive editor Lynzee Loveridge, video producer Jacki Jing, and Discotek producer Mike Toole sat down to watch every single anime trailer for the...
Uncovering Tephlon Funk With Creator Stéphane Metayer and Samurai Champloo's Fat Jon
Dive into a story of music and hope set against the backdrop of New York's boroughs. Tephlon Funk has a whole world to discover and a dope soundtrack, too.
― Tephlon Funk, a comic written by Stéphane Metayer and illustrated by David Tako, is both a fusion of anime and hip-hop influences and a giant love letter to the five boroughs of New York City. Set in Queensbridge during the mid-90s, the story ce...
Interview: Great Pretender Director Hiro Kaburagi and Writer Ryota Kosawa
Director Hiro Kaburagi and writer Ryota Kosawa discuss how they made a story of lovable ne'er do wells appealing for an international audience.
― Great Pretender is an exciting new anime series produced by Wit Studio. It tells the story of Makoto Edamura, a conman, who travels the world and gets involved in various scams and mysteries. The anime is streaming worldwide on Netflix. Director Hiro Kabura...
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! The Process of Passion
Jaylon Martin's latest video dives into Masaaki Yuasa's television anime about the wonderful world of anime production. A love letter to anime, Eizouken captures audiences by showing us that passion can have a profound effect on us all.
― Masaaki Yuasa's Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken dives into the wonderful world of anime production through the eyes of three high school girls. A love letter to anime,...
Interview: D4DJ First Mix Director Seiji Mizushima
Director Seiji Mizushima is no stranger to the DJ scene, he used to DJ himself! Learn more about how his experience as a DJ informed his direction of the show.
― D4DJ First Mix follows the story of Rinku Aimoto as she forms a DJ unit of her own in the school she recently transferred to, Yoba Academy, after being inspired by a DJ concert she sees there. Along with her friends, Rinku aims for the high ...
How Important is Period Costume Accuracy in Historical Anime?
Most anime either take place in the contemporary real world or in a fantasy world that's divorced from reality, but sometimes a show comes along that dares to tackle a historical era – one with its own specific fashions.
― Most anime either take place in the contemporary real world or in a fantasy world that's pretty much divorced from reality, but sometimes a show comes along that dares to tackle a ...
Interview: Akudama Drive Art Director Yoshio Tanioka
In Akudama Drive, the background art is as much of a character as the colorful cast. Yoshio Tanioka explains how he infused futuristic ideas and Showa-era Japan in one world.
― Akudama Drive depicts a unique cyberpunk world, set in a Japan reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s. Anime News Network spoke to art director Yoshio Tanioka about his role in crafting the anime's background art and aesthetic. Ho...
The Journey of Eren Jaegar: A Road Map to the Final Season
The final season of the explosive action series is upon us. Here's everything you need to know about Eren's journey before the premiere on December 7!
― The highly anticipated final season of Attack on Titan is set to return, even if its not this fall like originally planned. The trailer left fans excited and curious about new characters joining this amazing story. One face (and body) that had every...
Interview: VR Visual Novel Altdeus: Beyond Chronos Director Haruki Kashiwakura
The team behind the intriguing Tokyo Chronos VR visual novel game is back with Altdeus: Beyond Chronos, a sci-fi VN set in future Shibuya.
― Last year, MyDearest released the intriguing Tokyo Chronos VR visual novel game, which implemented traditional visual novel gameplay mechanics in a VR setting. The game was a success in Japan, but the team at MyDearest is interested in reaching an even wider aud...
PREVIEW: Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy
With the new generation of consoles fast approaching and more emphasis than ever on bigger, grander, weightier worlds and stakes, Atelier Ryza 2 is content with swaddling you with a good time, even if it's a bit rustic at it.
― Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy is, in a word, cozy. With the new generation of consoles fast approaching and more emphasis than ever on bigger, grander, we...
Why Was the Haruhi Suzumiya Series a Big Deal?
Back in print with a new novel, the goddess that took the internet by storm 15 years ago is ready to rule again.
― Well before the days of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Attack on Titan, there was an anime that took over the internet generation: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, a quirky science-fiction series from 2006 about a high school club seeking out paranormal activity. Little does the cl...
What Can We Expect From the Staff Changeover for Attack on Titan The Final Season?
Attack on Titan The Final Season is coming out next month, and it's getting an extreme makeover. The core staff has changed completely, including the director, character designer, and almost everyone else in charge of the visual look of the show.
― Attack on Titan The Final Season is coming out next month, and it's getting an extreme makeover. Instead of being produced at WIT Studio, which has so far...
What's the Story With Shenmue?
Why is Sega and Yu Suzuki's ambitious multi-part video game saga so enduring? And why is it getting an anime adaptation?
― Do you know any places where sailors like to hang out? Do you know where there's a pay phone around here? Do you remember that day when snow turned to rain? Did you happen to see a black car that day? It wasn't the kind of car usually seen around here. Do you know anyone who can ...
The Fall 2020 Light Novel Guide
Rebecca Silverman stares down nearly a dozen new light novels, including the highly anticipated High School DxD and I'm in Love with the Villainess!
― The months we're covering in this Guide don't have an enormous amount of new light novel series debuting. There are still a good amount, but some of them came out as digital-first titles in the late summer, so they won't feel quite as shiny and new if ...
The God Of High School: The Gods and Demons [Video]
Leo Rydel looks back on the summer action hit to explain just what is going on The God of High School's lore, from its Gods to its demons.
― The God of High School came out on Crunchyroll this past summer as an original and it was a hit. There were many things to love about the show, mainly its unique way of depicting fighting. It has a style that reminds you of a cross of Dragon Ball Z and fighting ...
New Updates Every Day!
Our tower of manga reviews continues to get higher! The FALL MANGA GUIDE has sneak peeks of the latest series! Available now: Slasher Maidens • Fangirl • Tokyo Shinobi Squad • Mapping: The Trash-Tier Skill • Record of Wortenia War • Bibliophile Princess • Hachi/Ritsu • Mieruko-chan • Campfire Cooking in Another World • The Engagement of Marielle Clarac • Mob Psycho 100: Reigen • Keep Your Hands of Eizouken! • Sadako at the End of the World • The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter —AND MORE!
Interview: D4DJ First Mix Cast
Yuka Nishio, Aimi, Risa Tsumugi introduce their characters and the the hypnotic and exciting practice of DJing in Bushiroad's newest project D4DJ.
― Following the successes of BanG Dream! and Revue Starlight, D4DJ (Dig Delight Direct Drive DJ) is Bushiroad's latest multimedia project that centers around the hypnotic and exciting practice of DJing. Aside from live DJ performances and games, the projec...
Interview: Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina Author Jougi Shiraishi
Jougi Shiraishi shares his journey from amateur writer to pro and weighs in on Elaina's divisive personality.
― Wandering Witch - The Journey of Elaina tells the story of a traveling witch named Elaina, who experiences new sights and wonders in every country she travels to. The novels recently inspired a popular anime series. Anime News Network spoke to author Jougi Shiraishi about his humble origins...
UPDATED DAILY
Need some manga to get through the weekend? The FALL MANGA GUIDE is updating twice a day! Check out EIGHTY-SIX, THE WHITE CAT'S REVENGE, THE WRITER AND HIS HOUSEKEEPER, BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL, PRINCESS LEIA, and BLUE GIANT!
― Welcome to Anime News Network's Fall 2020 Manga Guide! You may have seen one of our seasonal Anime Preview Guides, where a team of critics writes up each new anime television pr...
Interview: My Broken Mariko Creator Waka Hirako
Centering on Tomoyo Shiino as she deals with the fallout of the abrupt loss of her best friend Mariko, MY BROKEN MARIKO offers a poignant and unflinching exploration of suicide and its devastating impact on those left in its wake.
― Centering on Tomoyo Shiino as she deals with the fallout of the abrupt loss of her best friend Mariko, MY BROKEN MARIKO offers a poignant and unflinching exploration of s...
Why Does The Crunchyroll Original Series EX-ARM Look So Awful?
The trailer for the EX-ARM dropped on Friday and quickly shocked viewers; not for its story, but for its ineptitude.
― During Anime Expo Lite in July, Crunchyroll announced three new titles into their “Originals” lineup. According to Head of Global Partnerships Alden Budill, a Crunchyroll Original is a show that's “developed with an eye towards our community”, and is “made for our audiences with the ...
Interview: Yakuza: Like a Dragon Localization Producer Scott Strichart
The last few years have seen Yakuza transform from a localization longshot into one of Sega's most visible franchises in the west, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon seems poised to become the series’ biggest hit yet.
― Sega's highly-anticipated Yakuza: Like a Dragon hits digital and physical stores in North America next week, introducing old and new fans alike to an RPG-flavored spin on Sega's long-running c...
The Blood-Soaked Manic Appeal of Chainsaw Man
If you haven't yet made room in your heart for a chainsaw, here's why you may want to fix that.
― If you frequent anime and manga circles on social media, there's a high chance you've heard the name Chainsaw Man sometime in the last two years. The series, which launched in late 2018 in Shonen Jump, has been gradually (and then not-so-gradually) building a reputation for itself ever since its chopped,...
Pretty Cure 101: Everything You Need to Know And Some Things You Don't
Ivan Ituriel takes look at the blockbuster magical girl franchise and what makes it standout among the anime crowd.
― If you know anime, you know Magical Girls – that's just how life works. Be it classics like Himitsu no Akko-chan, Minky Momo and Sailor Moon, modern reinventions like Nanoha and Madoka, or whatever the heck Flip Flappers was, the magical girl genre has been a pillar of anime for longe...
How Black Creatives Are Influencing The Anime Fandom
One of the most delightful aspects of fandom is how it brings so many diverse people together to celebrate one thing. Dennis Banda interviews creators like Adorned by Chi's Jacque Aye to find out how the Blerd community is transforming fandom.
― One of the most delightful aspects of fandom is how it brings so many diverse people together to celebrate one thing. In this atmosphere of diversity, it is...
Interview: TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You Creator Kenjirō Hata
Manga creator Kenjirō Hata spoke to Anime News Network about the inspirations for the story and its relationship with his previous work, Hayate the Combat Butler.
― TONIKAWA: Over the Moon For You is a currently airing anime about the sweet everyday life of a young married couple. In anticipation of the anime's premiere, manga creator Kenjirō Hata spoke to Anime News Network about the inspirations fo...
Hypnosis Mic and the History of Japanese Hip-Hop
How did a multimedia franchise like Hypnosis Mic get off the ground? Marc Schulz and Jaylon Martin breakdown the history of how hip-hop came to Japan!
― Hypnosis Mic, King Records' multimedia project about crews of anime boys fighting each other in rap battles, made its way onto airwaves this month. While HypMic (as it is more often called by fans) already has a noticeable following in the West than...
Mini-Interview with Master of Horror Junji Ito
Now, with an Eisner award under his belt, Anime News Network caught up with Ito to discuss pets, fashion, and the spine-tingling inspiration behind some of his most haunting tales.
― Junji Ito was a guest at this year's Virtual Crunchyroll Expo to talk about his manga Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu, one of the acclaimed horror artist's many licensed manga. Ito is horror manga mainstay in both Japan...
Sneak Peek: Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia
Myles takes an early look at the newest entry in the Bakugan franchise and finds a game perfect for scratching that monster-catcher itch.
― “Bakugan is back.” These are the words that Spin Team representative Cole Flott used to head off late September's briefing on upcoming news for the franchise. And he wasn't kidding. In addition to its Armored Alliance series dropping on Netflix soon, a new season...
Interview: Boys-Love Anime Label Blue Lynx
Boys-love anime label called “Blue Lynx” took off runing with three anime recent film titles: Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather, Given, and Umibe no Étranger.
― Last year, Fuji TV announced the launch of a boys-love anime label called “Blue Lynx.” Since then, the label has produced three anime film titles: Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather, Given, and Umibe no Étranger. Anime ...
Interview: Re:ZERO Creator Tappei Nagatsuki and Illustrator Shinichirou Otsuka
In anticipation of the Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- The Prophecy of the Throne multi-console game, we interviewed series creator Tappei Nagatsuki and novel illustrator Shinichirou Otsuka.
― The Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- The Prophecy of the Throne game for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam will release in North America on January 29 and in Europe on Februa...
Traveling Whimsical Roads with Izumi Matsumoto
Kat Callahan reflects on her time as the Kimagure Orange Road creator's guest liaison and how his work forever shaped her life.
― Earlier this week we learned Izumi Matsumoto, creator of the iconic manga and hit anime series Kimagure Orange Road, passed away. Matsumoto's work profoundly influenced the person I became and the life path I chose. Although the natural inclination is to lay the blame on t...
The Fall 2020 Preview Guide
It's here! The story continues in YASHAHIME: Princess Half-Demon! Check back all day for continuous updates. Also Available NOW: Dropout Idol Fruit Tart • Maesetsu! Opening Act • The Day I Became a God • Gymnastics Samurai • Akudama Drive • Strike Witches • Noblesse • Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear • Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World • IWGP • Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle • Moriarty the Patriot • Talentless Nana • Jujutsu Kaisen...and more!
Great Pretender and Robin Hood: The Appeal of the Outlaw Hero
Jaylon Martin takes a nuanced look at why we can't help but root for the swindlers, crooks, and conmen of The Great Pretender.
― What anime features charismatic characters trying to make a buck, high speed plane races, and a phenomenal jazzy OP that we all love? I'm of course talking about Great Pretender, the latest offering from Studio WIT, creators of Attack On Titan, The Ancient Magus Bride, and...
Hypnosis Mic and the History of Japanese Hip-Hop
Cue the beats, because Marc Schulz is here to take you on a journey through Japanese hip-hop and how its popularity birthed this season's craziest anime, Hypnosis Mic
― Hypnosis Mic, King Records' multimedia project about crews of anime boys fighting each other in rap battles, made its way onto airwaves this month. While HypMic (as it is more often called by fans) already has a noticeable following ...
Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna Producer Yosuke Kinoshita
Film producer Yōsuke Kinoshita spoke to Anime News Network about the messages of maturity in the Kizuna film, the bonds that make a chosen family, and what it means to grow up.
― Tai is now a university student, living alone, working hard at school, and working every day, but with his future still undecided. Meanwhile, Matt and others continue to work on Digimon incidents and activities that help peo...
The Role of Memoria Freese in DanMachi World-Building
If you wrote off Memoria Freese as just another mobage, Theron Martin is here to tell you all the juicy plot details hiding inside.
― In June 2017, Wright Flyer Studios debuted DanMachi ~Memoria Freese~ (hereafter DanMemo), a mobile app game based on the Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? franchise. The franchise proved popular enough overseas that Crunchyroll cut a deal to localize t...
Our Most Anticipated Anime Of Fall 2020
It's the final countdown to the Fall 2020 anime season. Our critics weigh in on the series they can't wait to watch!
― Our Most Anticipated Anime of Fall 2020 Rebecca Silverman Most Anticipated: Moriarty the Patriot I haven't been in this position for a few seasons – there are so many shows I'm looking forward to that I had a hard time picking the one I'm most excited for. Of course, I also made it h...
The Best (And Worst) Anime of Summer 2020
Summer has fallen and it's time for autumn to rise! ANN's editorial team looks back at the hottest series of the season and which turned out to be real stinkers.
― The Best (and Worst) of Summer 2020 Caitlin Moore Best: Appare-Ranman This season, Appare-Ranman joined the ranks of brilliantly creative, tragically underwatched original anime along with such fantastic titles as Stars Align, Granbelm, an...
The Fairy Tale of Inuyasha: 20 Years Later
Ahead of the highly anticipated Yashahime premiere, Christopher Inoa revisits the classic that ushered in a new wave of anime fans.
― When we last left the world of Inuyasha, the series' titular character and Kagome Higurashi, the now high school graduate from another world and reincarnation of his first true love Kikyō, are living happily together in feudal era Japan. Kagome decided to forgo her lif...
Light VS. Lelouch: The Worst "Heroes" of Anime
Countless shonen anime have had a profound impact on many of us...but these two are the absolute WORST. Leo Rydel breaks down their horrible deeds and whether Light or Lelouch is the worst “hero” in his new video.
― Countless shonen anime have had a profound impact on many of us...but these two are the absolute WORST. Leo Rydel breaks down their horrible deeds and whether Light or Lelouch is the wor...
How Bloom Into You Defies and Reinforces Yuri Tropes
Writer Nicki “YuriMother” Bauman looks back on the pivotal romance series and why it's so important to the yuri sub-genre.
― Warning: This article contains spoilers for all of Bloom Into You Nio Nakatani's hit series Bloom Into You is one of the most successful yuri works in recent memory, selling over one-million print copies and spawning two manga anthologies, a spinoff light novel trilogy, a stag...
Interview: Robotics;Notes Elite and DaSH Producer Tatsuya Matsubara
If you've seen the Robotics;Notes anime, why should you play the game? Richard Eisenbeis gets the answers from game producer Tatsuya Matsubara.
― The western world is about to see a lot more Science Adventure visual novel titles, with the upcoming English release of Robotics;Notes Elite and Robotics;Notes DaSH in October. Robotics;Notes Elite is an enhanced version of the original Robotics;Notes visu...
Crunchyroll Expo 2020: Dr. STONE Focus Panel with Shusuke Katagiri
Animation producer Shūsuke Katagiri kicked off the CRX Dr. Stone panel and gave insight into what fans could expect and how the production is progressing.
― The first anime season of the Dr. STONE anime ended in December 2019, which seems like a lifetime ago now. In the nine months since the last episode ended, production has been swiftly underway for the highly anticipated second season. Animation p...
Crunchyroll Expo 2020: TONIKAWA Panel with VA Akari Kitō and Author Kenjiro Hata
Hayate the Combat Butler creator introduces fans to his newest work, this time focusing on a relationship post marriage.
― Upcoming anime, TONIKAWA (also known as Fly Me to the Moon), premieres in less than a month. Ahead of its premiere, Crunchyroll Expo hosted a panel with voice actress Akari Kitō and author Kenjiro Hata to share details on the anime and the original manga. Hata is famously known f...
Interview: The Secrets of Deca-dence
"When the privileged class rules in perpetuity without even touching any other world, that, to me, is dystopia."
― Last time we interviewed the Deca-dence team, we had no inkling of the surprises the series had in store. Director Yuzuru Tachikawa is back for round 2, along with Cyborg designer Kiyotaka Oshiyama and Deca-dence designer Hiromatsu Shu. Read on to find out more about the design philosoph...
Now and Then, Here and There Wants to Break You
Akitaro Daichi's dystopian nightmare pits children against a mad dictator and remains one of anime's most stark depictions of the casualties of war 20 years later.
― While personal definitions will always vary as to what this means when a piece of media "breaks you," I've often found the core link between them is emotional disarmament. We find an empathetic connection, whether in a character, theme, ...
The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Director Kenta Onishi & Novel Editor Satoshi Shoji
Work on the anime is just getting started, but director Kenta Onishi and original novel editor Satoshi Shoji gave us a peek at the details before the series premiere in January!
― Anime production for fantasy light novel, The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter by Meguru Seto, is well underway by studio Okuru to Noboru. Kodansha announced in May 2020 that the series will be coming to life on screen in Ja...
EX-ARM Director Yoshikatsu Kimura and Voice Actor Soma Saito
Crunchyroll's 3DCG project features a brain, an AI, and superweapons? Get all the details about EX-ARM from the director and lead voice actor before it premieres in January!
― Ahead of EX-ARM's premiere, director Yoshikatsu Kimura and voice actor Soma Saito give fans insight on their experience working on the series and tease what fans can look forward to. Director Yoshikatsu Kimura, whose previous w...
So I'm a Spider, So What? Creator Okina Baba and Illustrator Tsukasa Kiryu
The creators of the original series discuss the strengths and weaknesses of an anime starring a much-reviled critter ahead of the January 2021 anime.
― Ever wonder what it's like to wake up as the weakest monster in the world? No? Thankfully you can live vicariously through the main character of So I'm a Spider, So What? The isekai light novel began in 2015 and now has an anime coming in January 2021...
Japan Sinks and the Cultural Identity in Disaster Anime
It is predicted that there is a 70 percent possibility of an earthquake directly hitting Tokyo within the next 30 years. Are you prepared? - Tokyo Metropolitan Government website
― It is predicted that there is a 70 percent possibility of an earthquake directly hitting Tokyo within the next 30 years. Are you prepared? - Tokyo Metropolitan Government website Think about the first anime you ever saw. I...
Pro Overwatch Player Bischu Talks Anime Ahead of Playoffs
Los Angeles Gladiators professional Overwatch player Bischu is gearing up for the league playoffs on today. Jacki Jing caught up with 26-year-old D.Va and Roadhog player ahead of the team's match for a quick anime-flavored intermission.
― Los Angeles Gladiators professional Overwatch player Bischu is gearing up for the league playoffs on today. Anime News Network's Jacki Jing caught up with 26-year-o...
Meet Cover Corp CEO Motoaki “Yagoo” Tanigo, The Man Behind Hololive's Virtual YouTubers
Cover Corp just introduced its fifth generation of VTuber talent, now meet the man behind Hololive!
― I was honored to interview the beloved Cover Corp CEO Motoaki Tanigo also colloquially known as “Yagoo” by the Hololive Community. Cover Corp is the parent company that runs the all-female Virtual Youtuber idol group known as Hololive, and the all-male Virtual Youtuber, or ‘VTuber’ idol group known a...
PREVIEW: Bandai Namco Games' Action RPG Scarlet Nexus
Heidi has the lowdown on Bandai Namco Games’ “brainpunk” adventure...and she can't wait to get her hands on the full game. Find out why!
― In a COVID-ravaged world, game previews have changed. No longer are we invited to events where we can get hands-on time with upcoming titles – instead, we have online demo events where we watch a development-in-progress version of the game get shown off for us. Wh...
How Fan Translators Made Virtual YouTubers a Global Phenomenon
By this point in 2020, a mere four years after Kizuna AI's debut, there's just so much VTuber content out there that it gets a little overwhelming figuring out where to begin watching.
― Lately, I've been watching a Virtual YouTuber called “Usada Pekora.” She has a resting smug face and a quirky laugh, and she says “peko” every second word. She streams herself playing video games, often taking on way...
Hunting for Anime Fandom in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican native Jean-Karlo Lemus discusses the flourishing fandom on the island despite hurdles of availability and a slice of the series that thrived on local TV.
― Even though Puerto Rico is a U.S. colony, anime consumption on the island was for a very long time fairly unrecognizable to anime fans in the United States. The island lies in a very convenient geographical position, putting us betwe...
History and Momotaro in One Piece's Wano Country Arc
ZeroReq011 takes us through the history of the Momotaro folktale, its ties to nationalism, and its transformation in One Piece.
― Once upon a time, there was a young man. The young man set out on a grand adventure, expecting challenges along the way. On this same journey, the young man meets and makes friends. Those friends join him, and they share their food and the road. Eventually, the party of fr...
Kaiji: The Ultimate Millennial
Writer Norbert Daniels Jr. details how Kaiji's long and dangerous path out of debt is all too relatable for an entire generation.
― Following World War II and until the end of the 80s, Japan experienced its “Economic Miracle.” The country built itself up from the rubble of war and became one of the world's most powerful economies. But that came to an end in the early 90s when the Japanese economy st...
What's the Point of Isekai? The Cultural Implications of the Genre
Fiction doesn't exist in a vacuum. Writer NineOuh digs into the rapid growth of isekai stories and what its popularity says about current otaku culture.
― Fiction reflects nature. It's a way to contextualize the world around us with the tools at our disposal, be it through painting, literature, or film. There's always an underlying struggle going on in fields of art critique about the purpose of sai...
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